Ausdance 'Explorations' @ The Canberra Theatre

Ausdance ACT’s Youth Dance Festival is one of those marvels of organisation and production where 35 schools and 1400 students come together over three nights to entertain their family, friends and school mates. And just thinking about it must cause angst for all those dance teachers who back up every year with a fresh bunch of enthusiasts who opt for the gruelling schedule the productions require. But it’s always good on the night.

Ausdance ACT is the over arching organisation for all aspects of dance in Canberra and looking at the range and type of dance available it’s not surprising that they represent over 120 dance studios, groups and clubs, but this event surpasses most efforts. And as most mums- and maybe dads - are the ones who over the years encourage and support all those dance efforts that seem to start with little ballerinas and hip hop moves that require endless taxi provision for the enthusiastic dancer when they get to high school the inclusion of dance in the curriculum is a wonderful outlet for energy and ability, and mum and dad can watch with pride and sigh with relief that their dancer kept at it.

Dance is good for body image and fitness too, and the results represented in the schools many and varied versions of ‘Explorations’ as the theme for this year’s dance fest is a wonderful example of just how good dance is for all sizes, all shapes and all ages and the teamwork it generates.